Rain failed to dampen the spectacular spirit

Halle Fireworks and Lights Spectacular, Tatton Park

THERE is something quite magical about listening to the sounds of a world-class orchestra floating across beautiful parkland as dusk falls.

And what could be more perfect than sipping a glass of champagne and dipping into a bowl of strawberries while appreciating the fine music brought by Manchester’s Halle Orchestra and another British-born world class talent, conductor Neil Thomson.

Cheshire’s Tatton Park makes all this possible, by providing a wonderful setting for an annual outdoor picnic concert, now in its 17th year.

The spectacle brings people back year after year. The weather? Well that could always be better — the thousands of people who turned out for Saturday’s event sat huddled in waterproof jackets with brollies at the ready. Underfoot was a quagmire, although the organisers did their best to limit the damage with scattered straw, but getting off the grass car park left the car looking like we had done six laps in an offroad rally.

But it only added to the spirit of the occasion, bringing out the stiff upper-lip of hardened concert goers intent on having a good time.

The musicians, faultless as ever, romped through a programme which brought music from across the world, from popular composers ranging from Dvorak, Brahms and Elgar to Bizet, Coates and Oldham’s own William Walton.

The pieces chosen seemed perhaps to be less well-known than the usual choice for the picnic concert, but they were wonderful, nonetheless, and had everyone relaxed and looking forward to the finale, a magnificent firework display arranged around musical cues for the final two pieces in the evening.

As darkness fell, providing a blackened backdrop for the fiery spectacle to come, the magic continued as picnickers lit the banking with a soft glow from lanterns and candles.

When it did arrive, the firework display was out of this world. Sited much closer to the audience than in previous years, plumes of light and shooting stars lit up the sky in every colour imaginable.

Concert firework specialists Dragonfire did a marvellous job of matching the dancing lights to the scores of Dukas’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” and the “Witches Sabbath” from Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique”.

And a standing ovation at the end of the concert brought the orchestra back with a rousing version of the “Can Can,” and a fun firework finale which matched the galloping tune.

All-in-all, it was wonderful evening, and one, if you have so far missed it, to put in your diary for next year. You won’t be disappointed.